??? about headstock castings Aluminum or pot metal?

[godavid2]

I seen on the SS forums people referred to the headstock castings material as aluminum. I've always believe the castings to be pot metal. I would like to know which headstock castings are made of aluminum.

thanks

roy

[JPG]

I seen on the SS forums people referred to the headstock castings material as aluminum. I've always believe the castings to be pot metal. I would like to know which headstock castings are made of aluminum.

thanks

roy

All but the model 10(cast iron).

Aluminum is aluminum.

Pot metal is lord only knows what.

[jsburger]

I seen on the SS forums people referred to the headstock castings material as aluminum. I've always believe the castings to be pot metal. I would like to know which headstock castings are made of aluminum.

thanks

roy

All head stock's are aluminum except for the Model 10 (the original Shopsmith) which is cast iron.

I don't know why you believe they are "pot metal". Who told you that? That is totally untrue.

[dusty]

Everyone seems so sure about this. Is there a way to determine the answer without employing a metallurgist?

[jsburger]

Everyone seems so sure about this. Is there a way to determine the answer without employing a metallurgist?

Of course there is , look at the casting. Why do you think it is not true? Do you think a "Pot Metal" (whatever that is) head stock will last 60+ years.

[JPG]

Also according to Nick, it is weldable.

That don't typically work with pot metal.

[billmayo]

Also according to Nick, it is weldable.

That don't typically work with pot metal.

Very true. I was able to weld aluminum brackets to the Mark V headstock but was unable to braze or weld a broken speed control arm. I believe Shopsmith called it an alloy (?) metal housing for the speed control. It seems like pot metal to me.

[JPG]

Also according to Nick, it is weldable.

That don't typically work with pot metal.

Very true. I was able to weld aluminum brackets to the Mark V headstock but was unable to braze or weld a broken speed control arm. I believe Shopsmith called it an alloy (?) metal housing for the speed control. It seems like pot metal to me.

Pork chop???

[godavid2]

Thanks for all the feed back. I guess I was assuming that since the headrest and base is pot metal or alloy then the headstock is too.

thanks

roy

[tomsalwasser]

Never heard of pot metal before. I wonder when SS started using it? From wikipedia:

Pot metal—also known as monkey metal, white metal, or die-cast zinc—is a colloquial term that refers to alloys of low-melting point metals that manufacturers use to make fast, inexpensive castings. The term "pot metal" came about due to the practice at automobile factories in the early 20th century of gathering up non-ferrous metal scraps from the manufacturing processes and melting them in one pot to form into cast products. A small amount of iron usually made it into the castings, but too much iron raised the melting point, so it was minimized.

There is no metallurgical standard for pot metal. Common metals in pot metal include zinc, lead, copper, tin, magnesium, aluminium, iron, and cadmium. The primary advantage of pot metal is that it is quick and easy to cast. Because of its low melting temperature, it requires no sophisticated foundry equipment or specialized molds. Manufacturers sometimes use it to experiment with molds and ideas (e.g., prototypes) before casting final products in a higher quality alloy. Items created from pot metal include toys, furniture fittings, tool parts, electronics components, and automotive parts.

Depending on the exact metals "thrown into the pot," pot metal can become unstable over time, as it has a tendency to bend, distort, crack, shatter, and pit with age. The low boiling point of zinc and fast cooling of newly cast parts often trap air bubbles within the cast part, weakening it. Many components common in pot metal are susceptible to corrosion from airborne acids and other contaminants, and internal corrosion of the metal often causes decorative plating to flake off. Pot metal is not easily glued, soldered, or welded.